A mandolin can serve as a kitchen utensil for slicing or as a musical instrument resembling a lute. The origin of the term is often attributed to the French and Italian words “mandoline” and “mandolino,” respectively. These names were derived from the earlier term “mandola,” which denoted a similar instrument with lower pitches compared to the modern mandolin. Tracing back further, the word can be linked to the Late Latin “pandura” and Ancient Greek “pandoura,” both referring to a three-stringed lute. The etymology of “pandoura” remains uncertain, with some scholars suggesting a pre-Greek origin while others propose potential connections to Armenian and Georgian languages, indicating a foreign influence.
